Ex-IPS officers help BJP build ‘War on Crime’ narrative

Two former IPS officers who are now BJP leaders are playing a significant role in highlighting the difference in the law-and-order situation in Uttar Pradesh during the rule of Yogi Adityanath and the previous Samajwadi Party regime.

Asim Arun had served as the commissioner of police in Kanpur before joining the BJP recently and his role in the party is yet to be decided. Brij Lal, a former UP DGP who was once considered close to Mayawati, joined the BJP in 2015 and is now a Rajya Sabha MP.

Arun is being propped up by the BJP as a “youth model” and “Dalit icon” with the party juxtaposing him to SP’s candidates with criminal backgrounds. Meanwhile, Lal has been attacking the SP on the law-and-order situation that prevailed under its tenure and, on Tuesday, enumerated the cases lodged against SP’s candidates and accused the opposition party of taking an anti-Dalit stance.

Arun told ET that the “unbiased inquiry” into every act of crime has become the Yogi Adityanath administration’s hallmark and helped officers work without the fear of running into conflict with leaders of the ruling party.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has asked the Election Commission to probe Arun’s tenure. There was an understanding between Arun and the BJP for a smooth political entry, Yadav has alleged, demanding that his work as Kanpur police commissioner be investigated too.



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